What is a prototype?

A prototype is a preliminary model of something. Projects that offer physical products need to show backers documentation of a working prototype. This gallery features photos, videos, and other visual documentation that will give backers a sense of what’s been accomplished so far and what’s left to do. Though the development process can vary for each project, these are the stages we typically see:

Proof of Concept

Explorations that test ideas and functionality.

Functional Prototype

Demonstrates the functionality of the final product, but looks different.

Appearance Prototype

Looks like the final product, but is not functional.

Design Prototype

Appearance and function match the final product, but is made with different manufacturing methods.

Production Prototype

Appearance, function, and manufacturing methods match the final product.

Prototype Gallery

These photos and videos provide a detailed look at this project’s development.

About

Sohtech LiPo Vault with Brett Wilson at the Pitch Party 2016

What RC experts are saying about the Sohtech LiPo Vault:

"I'm very impressed with your project and like that you had the foresight to invent something like this. I've been looking for something like this for a very long time. I have a couple of fireproof safe's and ammunition boxes I use. LiPo's are very dangerous and many people take them for granted.

I really like the pass through feature, I would definitely use that feature."

Dino Zuzic, President of Calgary RC Heli Club (Calgary, AB)

"We have been fortunate with only a couple of minor LiPo incidents but as electrics are becoming a major part of our hobby, perhaps it is time for our membership to consider such safe guards."

Ultimate LiPo Storage System

Are you, a friend or a relative using lithium polymer batteries (LiPo) and are concerned about how to safely store your LiPos?

The Sohtech LiPo Vault is the perfect solution to all your LiPo storage needs, whether you are just starting in your RC hobby or are a seasoned hobbyist. You can store all your LiPos in it and carry it anywhere you want, while charging up to 4 channels of LiPos.

MAX model.

Multiple Fire Proof Compartments

Having one LiPo catch fire is bad enough, imagine having it spread to multiple LiPos. The Sohtech LiPo Vault stops this domino effect right in its tracks. With multiple fire proof compartments lined with fire resistant tiles, one can rest assured that if one of your LiPos catches on fire, your other LiPos will not contribute to a larger fire.

Active Filtration System

LiPo fire is dangerous but so is its smoke. We all know burning plastics (ie. polymer) emits toxic fumes, but what makes it worse is the combustion of fluorine bearing electrolyte, which yields corrosive hydrofluoric acid.

The Sohtech LiPo Vault surpasses all other products by reducing the amount of toxic smoke released into the environment. In the event of a LiPo fire, the Active Filtration System filters toxic fumes and reduces the amount released into the environment. The interior of our oversized precision CNC machined light weight aluminum filter is loaded with acid neutralizing premium grade active charcoal, which has a total surface area of over 100 football fields.

Now, that’s smart.

Fits all your charging wires!

Universal Feedthrough System

LiPo fire tends to occur during the charging process. Sohtech LiPo Vault features a Universal Electrical Feedthrough System to accommodate all types of charging and balancing cables on the market today, allowing the top lid to be closed and thereby the filter is not bypassed when the LiPos are charging.

With our unique Universal Electrical Feedthrough System, you can charge up to four channels of 14S LiPos inside the Sohtech LiPo Vault

Why is Sohtech LiPo Vault the best?

Awards Winning Technology and Business Plan

The technology and business plan of Sohtech LiPo Vault have been reviewed by two independent groups of highly qualified judges, in the i3 Idea Challenge 2016 at W. Brett Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence, and the Tech Venture Challenge (TVC) 2016 at the Industrial Liaison Office, both of the University of Saskatchewan.

Sohtech LiPo Vault has been selected as the Best Overall Startup Winner in the i3 Idea Challenge 2016, as well as, the Graduate Students' Association (GSA) Award Winner in the TVC2016.

Sohtech LiPo Vault is the GSA Award Winner in the TVC2016 at University of Saskatchewan

Sohtech LiPo Vault is the Best Overall Startup Winner in the i3 Idea Challenge 2016 at University of Saskatchewan

Sohtech LiPo Vault booth and awards at the Finale of the i3 Idea Challenge 2016 and TVC 2016.

Management Team

The Sohtech LiPo Vault team has a
comprehensive background in engineering, RC, commerce, finance, accounting, logistics,
safety and asset management.

Tedric is the inventor of the Sohtech LiPo Vault, with his 3DHS AJ Slick here.

Chief
Executive Officer - Tedric Soh, M. Eng.- Tedric is currently a Ph. D. Candidate in
Mechanical Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) working on
the direct conversion of fission energy into electricity using advance nuclear
battery technologies. Tedric received his B. Eng. in the Metallurgical
Engineering and M. Eng. in Material Engineering from McGill University. Tedric
has over 10 years of research experience with various thermal insulative
materials and has worked with the late Maurice Ward, the British inventor
of Starlite, a unique polymer that is nuclear blast resistant and is featured
in the Guinness Book of Records. Tedric is a member of the Model Aeronautics of
Canada and the Renegade Flyers RC Club in Surrey, British Columbia. His
favorite hobbies are flying giant scale radio controlled 3D aerobatic
airplanes, astrophotography and sport boomerang. It is his dream to fly a
nuclear powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in his lifetime. Tedric also
served as the Representative of the Graduate Student’s Association to the U of S
Radiation Safety Committee. He was a Team Lead (Electrical) of the U of S
Space Design Team and was, responsible for designing a solar
powered lithium polymer battery system for a nanosatellite.

Stewart will ensure you get your rewards on time.

Chief
Operating Officer - Stewart Soh, B. Commerce
- Stewart is Tedric's younger brother and is currently pursuing his M.Sc. in
Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) at HEC Montreal. He received his Bachelor
in Finance from Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University. Stewart has
always been extremely passionate about supply chain and operations management,
and feels that his solid finance training provides him with the necessary
fundamentals to truly appreciate the essence of cross functional knowledge from
GSCM. Stewart is a team player and always gives his best. His participation of
two recent supply chain competitions, the APICS Canadian
District Lloyd Clive Memorial Student Case Competition 2015,
and the APICS SCC TFC Global Student Case Competition Final 2015 in Las Vegas,
Nevada, contributes to his teams' top placement among 400 competing teams.

Ronald will oversee the financial operation

Chief
Financial Officer - Ronald Soh, CPA, CMA - Ronald
is Tedric's youngest brother. He grew up in Montreal and began his career
working for Environment Canada as an intern in the Finances section. Upon
obtaining his B. Comm. in Accounting at McGill University in Year 2010, Ronald
moved to Ottawa to join Global Affairs Canada as a Financial Officer. During
this time, Ronald obtained accreditation as a professional accountant with CMA
Ontario. Ronald is currently working as a Consular Case Management Officer for Global
Affairs Canada where he provides essential assistance and support to Canadians abroad
and to their families in Canada. Ronald dedicates his time off to serving on
the Board of two local condominium corporations. In addition, he provides
pro-bono tax preparation services to low-income residents of his community.

The Sohtech LiPo Vault team is
passionate about bring the Sohtech LiPo Vault to the market.

Operational Timeline

International Backers

We will ship the Sohtech LiPo Vault to almost any country in the world. Our shipping cost is fair and is intended to be income neutral. Please note that you may be responsible for customs, duties, fees and taxes applicable to your region.

In Closing...

Sohtech LiPo Vault is the awards winning ultimate
storage system for lithium polymer batteries (LiPos) used by radio control
hobbyists and professionals alike.

Sohtech have studied what is missing in current
commercial and experimental methods to address a LiPo fire. Using feedback from
RC users and RC industry professionals, we have built and improved on several
prototypes and have created the Sohtech LiPo Vault that represents a truly innovative
solution to the LiPo fire and smoke problem.

The Sohtech LiPo Vault has a solid durable design made using
state of the art 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, precisely crafted
with Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining. Our features include:

Multiple Fire Proof
Compartments

Active Filtration
System

Universal Feedthrough
System

Our mission is to deliver Sohtech LiPo
Vault - The Ultimate LiPo Storage System to all RC enthusiasts and professionals
ensuring you and your families are safe while enjoying their remote control
activities.

Our vision is for Sohtech LiPo Vault to be a
brand that people recognize worldwide and recommend as their LiPo storage
solution.

Please talk to your friends about the Sohtech LiPo Vault, talk to us about it, share us on your social network. With the Sohtech LiPo Vault, you can enjoy your RC worry free.

Risks and challenges

The Sohtech LiPo Vault team (principle members and advisory teams) has a comprehensive background in engineering, RC, commerce, finance, accounting, logistics, safety and asset management.

We have worked on the Sohtech LiPo Vault since Jan 2015 (Yes, 2015), and finalized our design in Nov 2015. As a finalist of the Tech Venture Challenge 2016 (From Jan - May 2016), in Feb 2016, the risks and challenges of this project have been evaluated by two groups of MBA students at University of Saskatchewan and we have incorporated their findings and recommendations to this project.

Our primary exposure to risk, like any business that depends on their suppliers, will be unforeseen events occurring in our supply chain. For example, the FAT50 PA108 ammo boxes need to be ordered from overseas and may be delayed during shipment. We have verified with our components suppliers that they have sufficient inventory on hand to meet and exceed the requirement to fulfill this campaign.

Based on the above consideration, we are confident that if we reach our $25000 funding goal on Kickstarter, we will be able to deliver the reward to our backers in a timely and professional manner. Our production capacity allows us to fulfill 300 units of reward per month and we will do so on first come, first serve basis in case of exceptional demand for our products.

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